Up until yesterday, Gov. Tom Wolf's biggest issue was his inability to get much of anything done with Republicans who control both the state House and Senate.
Today, that doesn't look quite as important.
With his wife sitting at his side, Wolf yesterday announced he had a mild, treatable form of prostate cancer. Suddenly, the budget wrangling didn't seem quite as important.
Oh, I am guessing that in a few days, the partisan carping will continue.
But in Harrisburg, where they have raised gridlock to something of an art form in the governor's tumultuous first year in office, it was nice to see members of both parties unite to wish the governor well.
Wolf stressed that he has a 'minor,' treatable form of prostate that was first detected during routine screening last fall. He assured that it will have no effect on his ability to perform the duties of governor, although he is understandably planning to take a few days to be with his family. He is expected to start undergoing non-surgical treatment in a few weeks.
Wolf smartly used the occasion to stress the importance of getting screened.
We see these men and women every day, and we have a tendency not to see them in human terms. Instead we allow them to be framed by the political issues they kick around the Capitol.
Yesterday we saw Wolf in a different light than the man who has been jousting with Republicans over spending and taxes for months.
We wish him well.
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